Relief from red tape woes for eager start-ups

More than 13,700 commercial licensing applications have been made via the Abu Dhabi Business Centre since its launch last month in what officials describe as evidence of reduced red tape for start-ups in the emirate, data from the centre showed yesterday.

The applications related to eight Abu Dhabi local government entities linked to the centre and included "trade licensing, commercial registration of businesses and investor support services", it said. More than 180,000 applications for trade licences were processed last year across the emirate of Abu Dhabi, the centre said. Applications are expected to rise by 10 per cent this year.

"The launching of the centre is an initiative ... to reshape the business environment in alignment with international standards, and it comes as part of a comprehensive strategic plan focused on the development of various economic sectors ... yet another step towards achieving the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, forming an ideal business environment that positions Abu Dhabi as a premium hub for investment in the region," said Mohammed Rashid Al Rumaithi, the acting executive director of the centre. Officials believe the centre, launched in March in the same building as the Department of Economic Development and next door to the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City, will attract investment and encourage more businesses to set up in the capital.

This would be achieved by cutting through red tape and slashing the time it takes to start a business down to a matter of days. Stimulating private sector growth is a key part of the emirate's diversification goals to reduce the economy's reliance on oil.

Reduced red tape, enabling businesses to file and pay fees online and better access to utilities helped to propel the UAE up seven places to 26th in the World Bank's ease of doing business report for 2013. The World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report, published in September, ranked the UAE 24th out of 144 countries, up three places on the previous year.

The Municipality of Abu Dhabi has recorded 8,038 electronic applications - the highest number since the launch of the centre.

The linked government entities also include the Abu Dhabi Chamber, the Centre of Waste Management, Al Ain Municipality, the Western Region Municipality, the Department of Transport, Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company, and the Supreme Petroleum Council.